April 30th, 2004

Some have called the new Pharmacy Dispensing Aid (PDA) located at Christie on Windsor, "the next step in pharmacy." The PDA automatically counts and dispenses tablets and capsules and can fill prescriptions in approximately half the time it would take to fill prescriptions manually.

Here's how it works: When a specific drug is entered into the PDA system, a bar code for each product is scanned. After verifying that specific drug, a picture and description of the pill shows up on the LCD monitor. At this time, the prescription is filled and labeled. To ensure accuracy, which is estimated to be approximately 99.9%, the pharmacists take random samples and clean the PDA's sensors on a daily basis.

Christie on Windsor Pharmacy Manager Rick Ingram, R.Ph., believes the PDA at Christie Clinic is the first of its kind in Champaign County. The concept of the PDA is "not a replacement of manpower, it is here to increase work volume without cutting staff," he said. This will free up each pharmacist to counsel patients. Furthermore, the idea is to integrate old-fashioned pharmacy practice with advanced technology.

In the near future, an Interactive Voice Response system will be available as well. This system will allow patients to call in orders for prescriptions over the phone. An interface allowing physicians to order prescriptions from automated script pads in their offices is also being developed.

Tags: christie on windsor, pharmacy